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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-2
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed October 2009
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax K-7, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is pretty close but the SH-3 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The SH-3 was launched 6 years later than the K-7 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SH-3 grades versus the K-7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Pentax K-7

 SH-3 K-7 
RevealedFebruary 2016October 2009More recent by 78 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Olympus SH-3

 K-7 SH-3 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-7

 SH-3 K-7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 provides external dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Pentax K-7 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Check the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax K-7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SH-3 versus the K-7.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and K-7 is 88 and 60 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by looking through specs. The graphic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-3 and K-7.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SH-3 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus SH-3 will result in greater detail utilizing its extra 1MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern SH-3 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography features
44
megapixel count good (16MP)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
72
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Street photography highlights
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
has focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Sports photography camera
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
great battery (380 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-7 Travel photography advice
74
great battery (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
has focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
64
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Landscape photography camera
55
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
saves RAW formats
great battery (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
77
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-7 as a Vlogging camera
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
25
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-7
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax K-7
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax K-7
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2016-02-08 2009-10-02
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Prime II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4672 x 3104
Maximum native ISO 6400 2000
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 13.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lbs) 750 grams (1.65 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 61
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 536
Other
Battery life 380 images 980 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $579 $599